Straightening apparatus for tubes,rods and the like



R- L. VALENTE July 8, 1969 STRAIGHTENING APPARATUS FOR TUBES, RODS AND THE LIKE Sheet Filed June 1. 1967 \Wm EEEEE jwwzi o'f' @mmzdl Valera? ZUZ"WW July 8 1969 R. l... VALENTE swnmomnnme APPARATUS FOR TUBES, RODS AND THE LIKE Filed June 1, 1967 Sheet ors July 8, 1969 R- L. VALENTE STRAIGHTENIFNG APPARATUS FOR TUBES, RODS AND THE LIKE Filed June 1. 1967 United States Patent 3,453,852 STRAIGI-ITENING APPARATUS FOR TUBES, RODS AND THE LIKE Raymond L. Valente, Kankakee, lll., assignor to Manco Manufacturing Co., Bradley, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 1, 1967, Ser. No. 642,800 Int. Cl. B21d 1/02, 3/02; B21b 39/00 US. Cl. 72-164 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed a tube straightening apparatus in- Specification The present invention relates to an apparatus which is adapted to straighten a workpiece such as a bar, tube and the like, which apparatus may also be utilized for imparting a desired bend or curvature in the workpiece.

Heretofore proposed apparatus for straightening workpieces have usually included rolls disposed at opposite sides of a path of travel of the workpiece and positioned so as to bend or flex a workpiece passing therebetween a sufiicient amount beyond its elastic limit so as to remove any previous bends or curvatures from the workpiece for straightening the workpiece and/ or for leaving the workpiece with a desired degree of curvature. The rolls in such apparatus are usually formed with peripheral grooves having a dimension or radius corresponding to the dimension or radius of a workpiece to be processed so that it is necessary to change rolls whenever the size of the workpiece is changed.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel workpiece straightening apparatus which may be quickly and easily adjusted for accommodating workpieces of different sizes.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the above described type which may be quickly and easily adjusted for changing the degree of flex or bend applied to a workpiece passing through the apparatus.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the above-described type having a plurality of turntables or turrets each carrying a plurality of workpiece bending rolls, which apparatus is constructed for permitting the turntables to be adjusted for presenting selected rolls for engagement with the workpiece.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the above-described type which is constructed for driving the various rolls in timed relationship while permitting the aforementioned adjustment of the turntables.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an apparatus incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view taken generally along line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 in FIG. 4 and partially broken away in order to show certain structural features in greater detail;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with portions broken away so as to show certain structural features in greater detail;

FIG. 5 is a partial schematic view showing different positions in which bending rolls of the apparatus may be adjusted for changing the amount of flex or bend imparted to a workpiece passing through the apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end view of the apparatus as seen from line 6--6 in FIG. 4 and with frame portions of the apparatus in a spread apart or open position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, an apparatus 10 incorporating features of the present invention comprises frame structures 12 and 14 adapted to be mounted on any suitable support, not shown. Guide rods 16 and. 18 are fixed to the frame structure 12 and extend slidably through suitable bearings 20 mounted in the frame structure 14 so that the structures 12 and 14 may be shifted between a closed workpiece processing position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and a relatively laterally spaced apart or open position shown in FIG. 6 which facilitates initial insertion of a workpiece 22. As will be understood, the workpiece may be a bar, tube, rod or the like.

In order to shift the frame structures 12 and 14 relative to each other between the aforementioned closed and open positions, fluid actuated cylinder piston means 24 and 26 are provided as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Each of these means includes a cylinder bore 28 formed in the frame structure 14 and having an outer end closed by a plug 30 through which fluid under pressure may be introduced from conduit 32. A piston 34 is disposed in each of these cylinders 28 and is connected with a rod 36 which extends through a closed inner end of the cylinder or bore and is connected to the frame structure 12 at 38. An additional fluid inlet passageway 40" is provided for communicating with each of the cylinders so that upon introduction of fluid under pressure therethrough, the frame structures 12 and 14 will be forced together and to the closed position which is determined by engagement of the pistons 34 which serve as a stop with the inner surfaces of the plugs 30. i

In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, the apparatus 10 is provided with a plurality of sets of rolls which may be selectively and easily brought into position for engagement with a workpiece whereby the apparatus may be easily adapted for processing workpieces of different sizes and shapes. More specifically, turrets or turntables 42, 44 and 46 are respectively fixed on rotatable shafts 48, 50 and 52 which are rotatably mounted by suitable bearing means on the frame structure 12. Similar turrets or turntables 54 and 56 are fixed on rotatable shafts 58 and 60 respectively mounted by suitable bearing means on frame structure 14. Each of the aforementioned turrets or turntables carries a set of bending rolls 62, '64, 66 and 68 respectively fixed on rotatable shafts 70, 72, 74 and 76. The rolls 62 of each set are identical to each other. Similarly, the rolls 64 of each set are identical to each other as are the rolls 66 and the roll 68.

The rolls have peripheral surfaces which are shaped to engage a workpiece being processed. It is contemplated that the surfaces of the rolls of each set will differ from each other so that the apparatus may be quickly adapted for processing workpieces of difierent sizes or shapes in the manner described more fully below. In the embodiment shown, the rolls have grooves 78, 80, 82 and 84 providing their peripheral surfaces as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 and the radius of these grooves differs from roll to roll so that the apparatus may be adapted for processing tubes or rods having dilferent diameters.

When the parts are positioned as shown in FIG. 1, the rolls 62 on the turntables are disposed along opposite sides of the path of travel of the workpiece 22 for engaging and flexing or bending the workpiece sufficiently beyond the elastic limit of the workpiece material to accomplish the end result desired. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the axes of the various rolls '62 are disposed on a radius of their respective turntables which extends perpendicular to the path of travel in the workpiece. Thus, the rolls 62 on the turntables 44-46 intersect as much as possible the path of travel of the workpiece from one side while the rolls 62 on the turntables 54 and 56 intersect the workpiece path of travel as much as possible from the other side for accomplishing maximum bending or flexing of the workpiece. In other words, with the turntables in the positions shown in FIG. 1, there is a minimum distance between a first imaginary line tangent to the grooved surfaces in the rolls 62 on the turntables 42-46 and a second imaginary line tangent to the grooved surfaces of the rolls 62 on the turntables 54 and 56.

The turntables are adapted to be indexed by the structure described in detail below in order to bring the various rolls of each set selectively into operative position. In addition, the turntables are adapted to be adjusted for varying the location of this operative position in a manner for changing the space between the aforementioned imaginary lines tangent to the rolls at opposite sides of the workpiece path of travel and thereby changing the amount of flex or bend which is imparted to a workpiece passing through the apparatus. The manner in which the position of the rolls may be adjusted is shown somewhat schematically in FIG. 5. In this figure, the position of the rolls 62 shown in solid lines corresponds with that of FIG. 1. In this position, the axis of each roll '62 is on a radius 86 of its respective turntable extending at 90 to the path of travel of the workpiece 22. The turntables are adapted to be adjusted for shifting the position of the rolls 62 between the radius 86 at one extreme and another radius 88 at another extreme and which is located, for example, at an angle of 80 with respect to the workpiece path of travel. The structure is such that the roll 62 may be positioned on any radius between radii 86 and 88, such for example, as radius 90 located midway therebetween and at an angle of 85 with respect to the workpiece path of travel. In the particular embodiment shown, the apparatus is constructed so that the radius 90 represents the position at which the rolls 62 should be located in order to produce an essentially straight workpiece. The position of radius 86 represents a maximum overbending of the workpiece capable with the present apparatus while the radius 88 represents a maximum underbending.

The apparatus is provided with means for indicating to an operator the precise position of the rolls. This means is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and comprises scales 92 fixed on the periphery of the turret 42 and cooperable with a pointer 94 fixed on the frame structure 12. A separate scale is located on the turret for representing the position of each of the rolls when such roll is located for operative engagement with a workpiece. On the scale 92 as shown in FIG. 2, the zero position corresponds with the radius 90 shown in FIG. while the maximum plus position corresponds with the radius 86 and the maximum minus position corresponds with the radius 88.

In order to index the turrets or turntables for bringing successive rolls to the operative position and also to adjust the location of the operative position in the manner previously described, pneumatically operated reversible indexing and adjusting motors 96 and 98 are respectively mounted on the frame structures 12 and 14. As shown 4 best in FIGS. 3 and 4, the motor 96 carries a pinion 100 on an output shaft 102 thereof. This pinion meshes with an annular gear 104 on the periphery of the turret 44. The gear 104 in turn meshes with and drives annular gears 106 and 108 on the peripheries of the turrets 42 and 46.

The air motor 98 also carries a pinion 110 at the upper end of its drive shaft 112. This pinion engages and drives an annular gear 114 on the turret or turntable 56. The gear 114 in turn meshes with and drives an annular gear 116 on the turret 54.

While the motor 96 serves primarily to drive the turret 4446 for indexing and adjustment purposes and the motor 98 similarly serves to drive the turrets 54 and 56, means is provided for synchronizing the indexing and adjustment of all of the turrets. This means comprises a chain 118 shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4. A chain 118 encircles sprockets 120, 122 and 124 secured to lower ends of the turret shafts 50, 58 and 60. An idler sprocket 126 is mounted at the end of a piston rod 128 connected with a piston 130 operating within a cylinder 132. A constant air pressure is maintained in the cylinder 132 for biasing the idler sprocket 126 against the chain as shown in FIG. 3 with a constant force and thereby maintaining the desired tension in the chain.

In order to drive the rolls for pulling a workpiece through the apparatus, a hydraulic motor 134 is mounted on the frame structure 12 and a similar hydraulic motor 136 is mounted on the frame structure 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the hydraulic motor 134 is coupled with a drive shaft 138, and the motor 136 is coupled in a similar fashion with a drive shaft 140. The shaft 138 carries sprockets 142 and 144 which respectively drive chains 146 and 148. The chain 146 encircles and drives a sprocket '150 on a hub or sleeve 152 which is rotatably mounted for rotation about and relative to the turntable shaft 50 in a manner described more in detail below. The hub member or sleeve 152 carries a second sprocket 154 which drives a chain 156. This chain in turn drives a sprocket 158 fixed on a sleeve or hub member 160 essentially identical to the hub member 152 and mounted for rotation around the shaft 48 of the turntable 42. The chain 148 extends from the drive shaft 138 to and encircles a sprocket -162 on a hub member or sleeve 164 rotatably supported around the turntable shaft 52.

The hub members or sleeves 152, 160 and 164 are essentially identical so that only the sleeve 160 which is shown in detail in FIG. 4 need be fully described. This sleeve is rotatably supported by bearing units 166 and 168 for rotation around an intermediate portion of the shaft 48. The aforementioned sprocket 158 is integrally formed with or otherwise secured to the sleeve 160 adjacent a lower end thereof. An upper end portion of the sleeve 160 is provided with a gear 170 which may be integrally formed with or otherwise secured to the sleeve. The gear 170 meshes with and drives identical gears 172 respectively secured to the lower ends of the roll shafts 70, 72, 74 and 76 so that all of the rolls on the turntable 42 are driven in unison.

The sleeve members 152 and 164 are respectively provided with gears 174 and 176 identical to the gear 170 and the gears 174 and 176 respectively engage and drive gears fixed to the lower end of each of the roll shafts on the turntables 44 and 46. Since the construction and arrangement of these last mentioned gears is identical to that of the gears 172 they need not be shown or further described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hydraulic motor drive shaft 140 carries a pinion 178 which drives a chain 180 encircling and driving a sprocket 182 mounted on a hub member rotatably supported about the turntable shaft 58 and essentially identical to the hub or sleeve members 152, 160 and 164 described above. It will be noted that the only substantial difference between the hub members 152 and 160 is that the former carries two sprockets respectively for the chains 146 and 156 while the latter has only a single sprocket. The hub member surrounding the shaft 58 is identical to the hub member or sleeve 152 in that it includes two sprockets. The aforementioned sprocket 182 engages the chain 180 and the second sprocket which cannot be conveniently shown on the drawings engages and drives a chain 184 which encircles and drives another sprocket 186 on a hub member rotatably supported above the turntable shaft 60. It is to be understood that the sprocket carrying hub members or sleeves surrounding the shafts 58 and 60 also carry gears corresponding to the gear 170 and these gears mes-h with and drive gears corresponding to the above-described gears 172 and fixed to the lower end of each of the roll shafts on the turntables 54 and 56. Thus, all of the rolls on all the turntables are positively driven.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In an apparatus of the type described for processing a workpiece moving along a predetermined path of travel, the combination comprising adjacently disposed bending roll support members located at opposite sides of the path of travel, a plurality of bending rolls disposed on each of said support members, and means for shifting said support members for selectively positioning certain of the rolls thereon for engagement with a workpiece moving along said path of travel while other of the rolls thereon are disposed for avoiding engagement with the workpiece.

2. A combination, as defined in claim 1, which includes means connected with all of the rolls on said support members for simultaneously driving all of said rolls.

3. A combination, as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for shifting the support members selectively to position rolls for engagement with the workpiece includes means for both indexing the support members to locate successive rolls for engagement with the workpiece and for adjustably shifting the support members for adjusting the position of a roller disposed for engaging the Workpiece.

4. A combination, as defined in claim 1, which includes a pair of said support members disposed at one side of said path of travel and a third of said support members disposed at the opposite side of said path of travel, rolls on said pair of support members being positionable at first and second work stations spaced longitudinally of said path of travel, rolls on said third support member being positionable at a third work station located between said first and second work stations.

5. A combination, as defined in claim 4, wherein the rolls on each of said support member comprise a set of rolls, each of the rolls having workpiece engaging peripheral surface means, and the surface means of the various rolls of each set having difierent configurations.

6. In an apparatus of the type described for processing a workpiece moving along a path of travel, the combination comprising first and second. frame structures disposed adjacent said path of travel and relatively shiftable toward and away from each other, a plurality of turntables rotatably disposed on one of said frame structures and spaced from each other along said path of travel, at least one additional turntable rotatably disposed on said second frame structure at a side of said path of travel opposite from said first mentioned turntables and at a location generally between said first mentioned turntables, a set of a plurality of workpiece processing rolls rotatably mounted on and spaced around each of said turntables, said turntables being adjustable for selectively positioning the rolls thereon for engagement with a workpiece moving along said path of travel, and drive means connected with said rolls for driving the rolls positioned for engagement with the workpiece.

7. A combination, as defined in claim 6, which includes means for indexing said turntables for selectively advancing the rolls thereon to a workpiece engaging position and for also adjusting the location of said workpiece engaging position.

8. A combination, as defined in claim 7, which includes means interconnecting all of said turntables for synchronizing indexing an adjustment of all of said turntables.

9. A combination, as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said turntables comprises a central shaft, additional shafts supporting said rolls and rotatably mounted on each of said turntables and spaced around the shafts of said turntables, said roll drive means comprising hub members rotatably supported around each of the turntable'shafts, gears fixed on and driven by said hub members, and additional gears fixed on said roll shafts and meshing with and driven by said first mentioned gears.

10. A combination, as defined in claim 9, which includes means connected with each of said turntables for simultaneously and uniformly rotating the turntables for selectively advancing the rolls on the turntables to workpiece engaging positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 10,276 l/l883 Seaman 72-164 336,899 3/1886 Davis 72160 622,987 4/1899 Wagner 72-199 3,292,406 12/ 1966 OBrien 72-239 X MILTON S. MEHR, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 72-226, 239 

